I don’t think property taxes are the problem. They’re not great, but not terrible like NJ – 2% and crappy roads, services, etc – but you don’t have to pump your own gas.
The issue is that they allow to homeless to setup anywhere while not providing other options. It’s definitely cheaper just to create a town in the middle of nowhere somewhere in CA, and move all the homeless there. Give them some basic food and shelter at 50% the cost of doing the same thing in LA/SF/SD.